The concept of 'environmental determinism,' which posits that human behavior and societal development are largely shaped by climatic and geographical conditions, dominated geographic thought in the early twentieth century. However, scholars like Carl Sauer later challenged this view, arguing that culture, not environment, is the primary agent in shaping landscapes. Sauer's 'cultural landscape' approach emphasized human agency and the symbolic meanings embedded in physical spaces. This shift marked a move from a passive view of humans responding to nature to an active role where human activities transform the environment. Recent studies have further nuanced this debate, suggesting that while environmental factors can set constraints, they do not dictate outcomes, and that technological and social innovations often allow societies to adapt or even overcome these constraints, as seen in arid regions with advanced irrigation systems.
❓ 根据文章，卡尔·索尔等学者对环境决定论的主要批评是什么？
A. それは、人間社会を形成する上でのテクノロジーの役割を過度に強調している。
B. それは、気候が農業慣行に与える影響を無視している。
C. それは、環境を改変する際の文化と人間の主体性の役割を過小評価している。
D. それは、すべての環境が人間の居住にとって同様に好都合であると誤って想定している。
✅ 正确答案
It underestimates the role of culture and human agency in modifying the environment.
IELTS Reading Tips
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